Virginia governor says he supports sweeping voting rights bill.

Gov. Ralph Northam of Virginia cleared the way for a landmark voting rights bill to become law in his state Thursday, announcing his approval of a sweeping proposal that re-creates one of the core components of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 that has since been hollowed out by the Supreme Court.

The bill, called the Virginia Voting Rights Act, would re-create a process known as “preclearance” for any changes to election administration and logistics that would impact voting. Any locality in Virginia wishing to alter precinct locations, move elections offices or make other changes would have to hold a public comment period or seek approval from the state attorney general.

“At a time when voting rights are under attack across our country, Virginia is expanding access to the ballot box, not restricting it,” Northam said in a statement. “With the Voting Rights Act of Virginia, our commonwealth is creating a model for how states can provide comprehensive voter protections that strengthen democracy and the integrity of our elections.”

The provision is very similar to section 5 of the original federal Voting Rights Act, which forced states with a history of segregation and racially targeted voter suppression laws to obtain approval from the Department of Justice before making any changes to voting laws, regulations or administration.

Virginia was one of the states under preclearance.